Former Liverpool defender Jamie Carragher has warned that a potential reunion between Tottenham and Mauricio Pochettino could “end in tears”. This comes after Spurs’ former boss, who guided the north London side to the Champions League final in 2019, has been hotly tipped to replace the under-fire Antonio Conte.
Those discussions ramped up further after the side’s underwhelming exit from the Champions League on Wednesday. The full-time whistle at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium brought about a chorus of boos from the home faithful, swiftly followed by some sections chanting the name of Pochettino.
Should Daniel Levy believe change is necessary, the Spurs chairman could easily turn to their former employee to rejuvenate the club’s atmosphere. However, Carragher has rubbished these suggestions of Pochettino being a good fit, instead believing the reappointment would be a “damning indictment” on how the club has operated since he left more than three years ago.
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“Never go back. That is what they say in football,” the Sky pundit wrote in the Telegraph. “Mauricio Pochettino would be wise to remember that if he is tempted to return to Tottenham Hotspur. Don’t do it, Poch. All parties need to move on. Comebacks are usually more romantic than logical.
“Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy could curry favour with the supporters by re-appointing a popular ex-manager. They must know how rarely old magic is recreated in football.”
Carragher did cite examples of times reunions have borne fruit, with Carlo Ancelotti at Real Madrid and Jose Mourinho at Chelsea both identified. However, he believes the pair are exceptions to the rule due to the winning culture at the two respective clubs, and claims a better comparison would be that of Kevin Keegan at Newcastle United.
“Like Keegan’s Newcastle in the mid-Nineties, Pochettino’s Tottenham charmed neutrals without winning trophies. Keegan’s re-appointment in 2008 was greeted like the second coming, but he walked into different conditions and was gone eight months later.
“Levy made a misguided and expensive decision sacking Pochettino. I described it as ‘out of order’ at the time.
“I loved watching Pochettino’s first Tottenham side, and have always admired him. The manager deserved more help when he was one or two elite players short of winning the biggest titles between 2016–2019.”
Conte’s deal at Spurs expires this summer, meaning even if the Italian rides this rocky wave, an exit once this season concludes looks likely anyway. Carragher claims whoever lands the Tottenham hot seat next will have the incredible challenge of overseeing Harry Kane’s departure as the star striker enters the final 18 months of his current deal.
He added how Pochettino would face a much steeper task if he walked through the door today compared to what he was working with first time round. “The relationship will come to a natural end with Conte’s contract,” Carragher continued.
“On a personal level he has endured a difficult few months, tragically losing close friends and suffering illness and looks like he would benefit from a break. We should never overlook the human side of this story.
“Now Spurs must look to the future with their replacement, seeking a coach who will deliver on Levy’s promise to play with the style supporters crave. When you see the impact of Roberto de Zerbi at Brighton, there are obvious echoes of Pochettino at Southampton: a young, hungry coach making an instant impact with an exciting brand of football.
“The fact reappointing Pochettino is under consideration is a damning indictment on how Spurs have operated since he left. Going back would be an acknowledgement of the mistake sacking him. He would have to restart in north London, and every setback would inevitably lead to comparisons to when he initially took over.
“It is with a heavy heart that I cannot see how Pochettino can represent Tottenham’s future when he is a symbol of the ‘what might have been’ in the past.”
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